Spice holders



NOV. 15, M Q BALDWIN SPICE HOLDERS Filed March 20, 1953 INVENTOR 2| /l//fe WN C` da aw//v United States Patent rifce SPICE HLDERS' 'Marvin C. Baldwin, Raleigh, Tenn.

Application March 20, 1953,` Serial No. 343,664

6 Claims. (Cl. 211-78)` This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spice holders of the type adapted for mounting. on the under side of shelves, cabinets andthe like.,

More particularly this invention relates to a spice holder having an annular tray for receiving boxes of condiments and bottles of flavoring extracts, said tray being supported rigidly on the lip of an inverted 'cup-like dome forming the central portion of the rotatable rack, in Lazy Susan fashion. l

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a rotatable spice holder of the lLazy SusanI type, which Vis adapted for quick and 'easy mounting on' the under surface of a shelf or cabinet.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide such ka holder with a central aperture rotatably engaginga hub carried by a disc-like attachment member.

It is lanother object 'to provide a rotatable spice holder having a bearing structure o'f simple, economical, yet highlyr effective design.

Itis a further object' of the invention to provide a novel attachment device for use in rotatably supporting a spice oi'A similar holder.

It is a further object to provide a rotatable 'spice holder, the several parts of which `can economically be die- `formed ofv sheet metal or plastics `and which requires only Vthe use of a `single screw or bolt for itsv installation.

It is a still further object of theinvention 'to generally improve the design, construction and eiiciency of spice holders.

The 'meansby which 'the foregoing and other objects of this invention are -accomplished and thev manner of their accomplishment willi'be readily understood vfrom the fifallowingy specification' upon referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:y

Fig. 1% is an. exploded perspective partly in vertical axial section, of a preferred embodiment of 'the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the spice holder of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical 'axial `section taken on the line III-III of Fig. f2, .and including aportion of a supporting shelf.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 3,` Aof a modified. form of installation of, the. device.

ReferringY `now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the numeral 21 generally designates a flat annular platform which can easily be formed by stamping a disc 22 having a relatively large central hole therein, from sheet metal. Simultaneously with the cutting, or prior or subsequent thereto as desired, an upstanding ange 23 (with or Without a rolled edge 25) is formed along the periphery of disc 22 and the disc may be deformed to provide the annular upwardly projecting ridges 27.

The upstanding ange 23 constitutes a retaining rim to prevent condiment and avoring containers from falling off the platform 21. The rolled edge 25 strengthens the member 21, provides a smooth safe edge to the platform and adds to the esthetic appeal of the device. The

Patented Nov. 15, 1955 2 annular ridges 27 add to the rigidity of the platform, improve its appearance, and further serve as anti-slip devices inhibiting displacement of containers carried on the platform.

The platform 21 cooperates with an inverted cup 29 to form the hanging Lazy Suzan type of spice holder described. The cup 29 and the flange 23v form the sides of an annular trough-like rack of which the disc 22 proper is the bottom. The lower edge of cup 29 is outwardly flanged at 30 to provide a seat for' the inner margin of platform 21, which is press-fitted, welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the cup- 29 and its flange 35i. The circular top 31 of cup 29 is adapted to press lightly and rotatably against the under surface of a shelf (or bottom of a cabinet) 33. To reduce the area of contact, and thereby the friction, between parts` 31 and 33' it is preferred that an annular bead or ridge 35 'be pressed into the top 31, asv shown. Bead 35 also tends to rigidity the top 31 of the inverted cup 21. The top 31 has va concentric bearing aperture 36 therein.

Cooperating with the under surface'of part' 33 to attach and form a at bearing for the rotatable vcup top 31, is adisc 37'. Bearing disc 37 has formed' therein an upstanding cylindrical boss or hub 39 which forms the shaft that passes through the bearing aperture 36 in top 31Iand about which the cup 29 and the platform 21 carried thereby rotate. The bearing plate4 3'7 also preferably has its marginal portion raised' to form a small `area contact rim 41 for low friction enga-gement with the under surface ofv top 31 of inverted cup 29. The boss or hub 3.9 has a vertical dimension such that when its top sur- `face is fastened against the under surface of a cabinet bottom or shelf 33, the top 31 of the inverted Icup 29 is held with bead 35 bearing snugly but rotatably against shelf 33, against any appreciable movement except ro'tation about the axis of the cup and plat-form. A screw' 43 or equivalent fastening means passes.V through a suitable hole in the ytop of post 39 to clamp the same firmly against cabinet bottom or shelf 33.

In the modification of Fig. 4 the top 31 of inverted cup 29 is clamped between the disc 37 anda metallic cabinet bottom or shelf 45. In place of the wood screw 43 (in the species of Figs. 1 to 3,) a bolt 47 and knut 49 attach the lhub 39 to the member 45, the n-ut being preferably housed within the hub.

While the spice holder has been disclosedA as being formed primarily of die-shapedI sheet. metal parts,v it yis apparent that some or all of the component 'parts could be formed as metallic or plastic castings, if -and as desired'.

In the installation of the device, disc 37 is positioned within cup 29., with hub 39 project-ing' through aperture 36 and with rim 41 engaging the under surface of cup -top 3:1, concentric with and radially inwardly of bead 35'. Screw 43 (or 47.) is passedv through the hole formed n the upper surface of -hub 39 and attachment toI shelf 33 (or 45) effected. Such attachment holds disc 3i] 'subvstantially against rotation and lirmly holds cup 29 in .posit-ion, the cup aperture 36v beingV rotatable o'n the hub, to permit rotation of the holder for access` to containers supported thereon as desired. It will be seen that while the holder is easily rotatable as desired the frictional engagement between bead 35 and shelf 33 (or 45) satisfactorily limits undesired rotation or over travel of the holder beyond desired position.

I claim:

1. A spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, the top of said dome comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like portion, said top being centrally apertured to form an opening, an annular ridge formed in said top concentrically with and radially spaced from said opening, said ridge being of a depth to project a minor distance above the upper surface of said top, a circular attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform, said disc having an upwardly projecting peripheral rim in contact with the under surface of said top, said disc having a diameter less than the diameter of said ridge, said rim contacting said top under surface radially inwardly of said ridge, a substantially cylindrical hub concentrically carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, said hub projecting upwardly through said top opening and being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the depth of said ridge, whereby the tops of said hub and said ridge are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub,` and means for rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

2. A spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, the top of said dome comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like portion, said top being centrally apertured to form an opening, an annular ridge formed in said top concentrically with and radially spaced from said opening, said ridge being of a depth to project a minor distance above the upper surface of said top, a circular attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform and in contact with the under surface of said top, said disc having a diameter less than the diameter of said ridge and contacting said top under surface radially inwardly of said ridge, a substantially cylindrical hub concentrically carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, said hub projecting upwardly through said top opening and being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the depth of said ridge, whereby the tops of said hub and said ridge are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub, and means for rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

3. A spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, the top of said dome comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like portion, said top being centrally apertured to form an opening, spacer means formed in said top spaced from said opening, said spacer means projecting a minor distance above the upper surface of said top, an attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform and in contact with the under surface of said top, said disc contacting said top under surface radially inwardly of said spacer means, a substantially cylindrical hub concentrically carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, said hub projecting upwardly through said top opening and being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the projection of said spacer means above said top, whereby the tops of said hub and said spacer means are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub, and means for rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

4. In a spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, means for rotatably supporting said dome and platform including a circular attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform, said disc having an upwardly projecting peripheral rim in contact with the under surface of the top of said dome, a substantially cylindrical hub concentrically carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, said top being centrally apertured to form an opening and said hub projecting upwardly through said opening, spacer means formed in and projecting above the top of said dome, said hub being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the projection of said spacer means, whereby the tops of said hub and said spacer means are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub, and means rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

5. In a spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, means for rotatably supporting said dome and platform including an attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform in contact with the under surface of said top, a substantially cylindrical hub carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, the top of said dome being centrally apertured to form an opening and said hub projecting upwardly through said top opening, spacer means formed in and projecting above the top of said dome, said hub being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the projection of the spacer means, whereby the tops of said hub and said spacer means are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub, and means for rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

6. In a spice holder, comprising a dome having a laterally projecting platform rigidly fixed to its lower extremity, means for rotatably supporting said dome and platform including a circular attachment disc mounted within said dome spaced above said platform in contact with the under surface of said top, a substantially cylindrical hub concentrically carried by and projecting upwardly from said disc, said top being centrally apertured to form an opening and said hub projecting upwardly through said top opening, an annular ridge formed in said top concentrically with and radially spaced from said opening, said ridge being of a depth to project a minor distance above the upper surface of said top, said hub being of a depth to project above the upper surface of said top a distance substantially equal to the depth of said ridge, whereby the tops of said hub and said ridge are substantially coplanar, said dome opening being snugly rotatable on said hub, and means for rigidly fixing said disc and hub against rotation, to rotatably support said dome and platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

